Leaked images reveal production Liberty one year out from Australian launch

SUBARU’S new-generation Legacy – Liberty in Australia – has been revealed in leaked images posted online in the United States ahead of the car’s official unveiling at the Chicago motor show this Friday.

Predictably, the images show a toned down version of the Legacy concept shown at the Los Angeles motor show in November.

The rear end styling, in particular, appears to have reverted to a tamer design, at least on the mainstream model shown in the images that mysteriously appeared on Subaru fan forum LegacyGT.com overnight.

Gone are the big wheels, aggressive air scoops on the front and pronounced rear diffuser. However, the car keeps the same overall shape and – presumably – expanded footprint of the concept that takes the Liberty closer to the large-car class.

Shown here in sedan form with American number plates, the Legacy is expected to spawn a near identical Liberty to be made in Japan and exported to Australia for sale in early 2015.

The related Outback AWD wagon is expected to come next, presumably at the New York motor show in April.

No powertrain details have yet been given, but a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder boxer engine would seem to be a no brainer, perhaps along with a turbo-charged GT version that might employ some more of the Legacy concept’s sports design tricks.

A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) can be expected across the range.